Rectifier



Juiy '21, 1931. H. new: 3 5

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Filed June 29, 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. i

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July 21, 1931. H. P. DONLE 1,815,369

RECTIFIER Filed June 29, 2 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5110c to:

Patented July 21, 1931 STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD P. DONLE, F MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO RADIO INVENTIONS, INC., 0]? NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK RECTDEIER Application filed. June 29, 1925. Serial No. 40,414.

My invention relates to devices for rectifying alternating current. One object is to provide a simple and reliable device which can be used for supplying direct current to radio receiving outfits. Another object is to provide a rectifying device which is comparatively small and light in weight and yet rugged and durable.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is efiicient and reliable.

Another object is to provide a rectifier which will operate with uniformity under varying conditions.

Another object is to prevent deterioration due to overheating.

Another object is to provide a satisfactory form of full wave rectifier.

In the preferred form of device I employ two anodes arranged in proximity to each other and surrounded by a common cathode, the effective operating surface of the cathode being of much larger area than the area of either anode. These electrodes are mounted within a container or envelope which has been partially evacuated so that the pressure is suitable for ionization but without destruction of the electrodes. The electrodes are supported in such a manner as to maintain proper electrical insulation and give the tube the maximum practical life.

Fig. l is a side View and partial longitudinal section of a rectifier embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view and plan on the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view and plan on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is what is sometimes termed an exploded view showing in perspective various parts of the device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of device parts being broken away for exhibition purposes.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of the tube of Fig. 5 showing the electrodes in plan.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of another modification.

The anodes 10 and 11 are mounted side by side within the cathode 12 whose inner wall constitutes the active effective surface surrounding the anodes. These electrodes may be of any suitable material. I have found that the anodes may conveniently be of steel and the cathode of nickel although the invenltion is not limited to the use of such materia s.

The enclosing vessel or envelope 13 is preferably of glass in a form commonly referred to as a tube suitably constructed to maintain a low lnternal pressure. For convenience in construction and operation this tube has an interlor stem 14 sometimes referred to as a press which supports the conductors 15, 16 and 1'? and any other supporting wire or rod 18 which may be desirable.

In this case the anodes 10 and 11 are mounted on the outer ends of the conductors 15 and 16 respectively, theanodes being provided with longitudinal passages so that they may convenlently he slipped over the ends of the conductors in the process of assembly. The cathode 12 is suitably secured to the supporting members 17 and 18 for instance by welding. To prevent the transfer of heat from the anodes back to the stem I provide one or more insulating members such as 19 formed for instance of some highly refractory substance such as lavite. I also provide one or more radiating discs such as 20 formed of suitable material such as nickel. These dlscs are provided with openings 21 adapted to receive sleeve portions 22 on the insulators 12. These insulators are also preferably provided with recesses 23 so that they can conveniently be nested one within the other as shown in Fig. 1. These members 19 it will be seen completely insulate electrically the discs 20 from the anode conductors 15 and 16 and retard or decrease the transference of heat from the anodes to the stem 14. The members 19 also serve to protect the anode conductors from stray bombardments which would tend to injure or destroy them.

The discs on their part serve to radiate the heat transmitted through the insulators so that very little heat is transmitted to the stem and the tube itself.

The insulators 19 and the discs or plates 20 both serve as shields protecting the conductors which pass through them and pre- 10o venting electronic discharge from attacking the fragile conductors and eating away the lower ends of the anodes.

lhe supported? and 18 for the cathode preferably pass through the discs 20 and out bringing any detrimental strain upon the tube.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the cathode 34 is supported by conductor 35. Each of the anodes 36 is in this case tubular in form having discs 37 and 38 in its ends and supported on the conductor 39. Below the anodes is mounted the disc 4-0 supported on brackets 41 and carrying collars 42 which serve to shield the'conducting wire 39 below the anode and adjacent the stem 43. In this particular device the anodes were formed of nickel and the shield was also formed of nickel. This tube operated satisfactorily with a gas pressure of approximately 3 millimeters of mercury and its practical working range probably lies between .6 and 3.5 millimeter of mercury.

In Fig. I have shown an insulating body 45 of lava or the like formed around the lower ends of the conductors adjacent the stem. This block may be provided with individual extensions 46 around each conductor such as 47.

In all these formsof devices embodying the two anodes arranged within a common cathode we find a much greater uniformity and eificiency of operation than is possible with two separate half wave rectifiers. There seems to be some cooperation between the anodes which is interfered with if the anodes are shielded from each other.

While I have indicated quite definite limits of gas pressure I wish it understood that these limits apply to the particular devices herein shown and described and while I believe that these pressures should not be materially departed from with devices operating at comparatively low voltages I believe that with other mechanical constructions and under other conditions of operation that there may be considerable variation in the operating gas pressure of the tube.

I claim 1. A rectifier comprising a tube. two anodal conductors mounted therein. thermal insulators mounted on said conductors, heat radiating discs mounted on said insulators, a cathode surrounding parts of said anodal conductors and a conductor connected to said cathode and insulated from said discs.

2. A rectifier comprising a tube having an interior stem, a conductor secured therein, an anode mounted on said conductor, a series of radiating discs mounted on said conductor with interposed thermal insulators, and a cathode spaced apart from said anode.

3. A rectifier comprising a tube having an interior stem, two conductors mounted therein, an anode carried by one conductor, a metal heat radiating disc mounted on one of said conductors, the other conductor passing through said disc, and a cathode carried by the latter conductor and spaced apart from said anode, said cathode-supporting conductor being insu'lated from said disc.

4. A rectifier comprising a tube having two interior conductors, anodes carried by said conductors, heat radiating discs mounted on said conductors, thermal insulators mounted on said conductors between said discs, and a cathode having a wall spaced apart from said anodes.

5. A rectifier comprising a tube having two interior conductors, anodes carried by said coudiu-tors, heat radiating discs mounted on said conductors, thermal insulators mounted on said conductors between said discs, a cathode having a wall spaced apart from said anodes, and a supporting conductor for said cathode passing through but insulated from said discs.

(i. A rectifier comprising a tube, two anodal conductors therein, a tubular anode strung on each conductor and a single cathode surrounding both anodes and a series of heat radiating discs mounted on but insulated from said conductors.

7. A rectifier comprising a tube, two anodal conductors therein, a tubular anode strung on each conductor and a single cathode surrounding both anodes, an insulator mounted on each conductor and a radiating disc mounted on said insulators.

8. A rectifier comprising a tube, an inert gas filling for said tube, two anodal conductors therein, a tubular anode strung on each conductor, a single cathode surrounding parts of said anodes and interlocking insulators mounted on each conductor and radiating discs mounted between said insulators.

9. A full wave rectifier comprising a glass envelope having a re-entrant stem, two anode conductors, and a cathode conductor sealed therein, highly refractory insulating material surroundingparts of said anode conductors above said stem, anodes projecting from said insulating material, a cathode surrounding parts of both anodes, and means for supporting said cathode and positioning it with respect to said anodes, said means including a shield located above said insulating material and through which said anodes project.

10. An electric discharge device comprising an envelope, an internal tubular projection integral therewith and extending from the lower end of the envelope, cooperating cathode and anodes, the cathode surrounding all the active portions of said anodes and insulatingmaterial surrounding a portion of each anode beyond the end of the projection, and connecting with the projection, the anodes being supported by said projection whereby the anodes are held in fixed predevo termined relationship to each other by said tubular projection integral with the envelope.

11. A full wave rectifier comprising an envelope having an internal press, two anodes supported thereby, a cathode surrounding the ends of both of said anodes and supported by said press, the space inside said cathode between said anodes being unobstructed, insulating material surrounding the base of the anodes, and a shielding plate interlocked with the insulating material and having openings through which said anodes project.

12. A rectifier comprising a tube having two anode and two cathode wires sealed therein, thermal insulators mounted on the two anode wires, anodes supported thereby, a cathode supported on the two cathode wires and surrounding said anodes and means of mechanical connection between said cathode and said insulators for bracing the parts.

13. A rectifier comprising a glass tube having three conductors sealed in one end thereof, lava insulators mounted on two of said conductors, anodes supported by'said insulators and two of said conductors and a cathode supported by the other conductor and surroundin isaid anodes, and means for mechanically tying the anodes and cathode together.

14. A rectifier comprising a tube, two electrode elements having conductors sealed in a wall of the tube, an insulating member surrounding the base of each of said elements, a metallic plate having passages for said conductors, said plate and insulating members having interfitting portions, anda coactin electrode of materially greater area than sai electrode elements spaced apart therefrom sufficiently to permit ionization.

15. A full wave rectifier comprisin a tube having a stem with conductors seale therein, insulating posts on two conductors, anodes extending from said two conductors, a late positioned by said posts, single cat ode means surrounding the tips of said anodes andsupported on another of said conductors and means of mechanical connection between said plate and said cathode means for bracing t e parts.

16. A rectifier comprising a gas filled tube so having a reentrant stem, a hollow cathode having a side wall, a plate between the side wall and the stem and having a substantially lane metallic wall provided with openings't erein, anodes presented to the cathode "through said openings, said cathode and anodes being mounted on said stem, and the space between the anodes being unobstructed.

17. A rectifier comprising a tube having a gaseous atmosphere and a reentrant stun, a hollow cathode having a side wall, a plate between the side wall and the stem and having a substantially plane metallic wall provided with openin s therein, anodes presented to the cathode t rough said openings, said cathode and anodes being mounted on said stem, and the space between the anodes being unobstructed, and means for holding the anodes and the cathode in their proper relative positions includinginsulating material engaging the said plate and interposed between closely adjacent portions of the anodes and cathode.

18. An electric discharge device comprising an envelop having an internal projection integral therewith, anode structures mounted on said projection, said structures consisting of conducting leads and active surface members, insulating material surrounding a portion of each anode structure and supported by said integral projection, a cathode surrounding said active surface members of the anode structures, a metallic shield having an opening for each anode structure and interfitting with said insulating material at each opening, whereby the radiation of heat from the cathode and from said active surface members of said anode structures is deflected from said projection.

HAROLD P. DONLE. 

